In recent decades, the prevalence of allergic disease in the population has increased considerably, which has coincided with a decrease in the incidence of various childhood infections and an increase in childhood immunization coverage.

The aim of a study at the University of Karolinska (Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden) was to study the role of measles and measles vaccination as an infectious disease in the development of allergic diseases and the development of 'hypersensitivity.

The multicenter study "Prevention of allergic risk factors for raising children's awareness of agriculture and the anthroposophic way of life" included 14,893 children in 5 European countries (Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland). All of the children were aged 5 to 13 and represented half a population of children living on a farm, children studying in Steiner schools (Waldorf schools) and 2 comparison groups.

Children attending Steiner schools and their parents have often adhered to the principles of anthroposophical life, which recommend limiting the use of antibiotics and antipyretics as much as possible, avoiding vaccination or delaying it as much as possible, as well as consuming a large amount of biodynamic food. Parents of children have completed special questionnaires regarding information on the impact of various factors (including certain characteristics of their lifestyle), as well as the symptoms and illnesses of their children.

A separate group of children (n = 4,049) underwent an additional test, which was to determine the level of immunoglobulin E (IgE). The final analysis included only children with full anamnestic information regarding vaccination against measles or measles infection (84% of the initial number of children).

The questionnaire revealed that 73% of children were vaccinated against measles, 20% had measles and 14% of children had no measles vaccination or measles infection. 11% of vaccinated children had measles.

It turned out that the incidence of atopic sensitization was inversely proportional to the incidence of measles; a similar trend has been observed for measles vaccination.

Thereafter, children who exhibited wheezing and / or eczema symptoms in the first year of life were excluded from the analysis, and after this exception, an inversely related relationship between measles infection and any allergic symptom and any diagnosis of an allergic disease established by a doctor has been found. At the same time, there was no association between vaccination against measles and the occurrence of allergic diseases.

Thus, the results of the study indicate that measles can protect children against the development of allergic diseases.